Photo: Ittinger Museum
Photos: Helmut Scham
The monks' cells with gardens in front (left) Inside the Rococo church in Ittingen Museum (right) The Baroque gardens of Kartause Ittingen (bottom)
HOW THE CARTHUSIAN MONKS LIVED AT KARTAUSE ITTINGEN “Our supreme quest and goal is to find God in solitude and silence”, is written in chapter 12 of the Carthusian statutes. Silence, tranquillity and concentration on the search for God are central pillars of the Carthusian faith. A life of solitude in a monk’s cell is essential to finding this peace and being completely free and “empty” for God. In addition, the monks take a strict vow of silence and more or less break all contact with the outside world. The highly regulated sequence of work, study, contemplation, prayer and meditation is seen as continuous worship of God. Visitors to Kartause Ittingen can gain a vivid impression of the strict, contemplative way of life of the Carthusian monks. Ittingen Museum presents the ornate refectory, the monks’ bare cells and the richly adorned church as if the monks were still living and praying here. Wandering through the cloisters, work rooms and gardens, visitors can gain an insight into a world that would normally be closed to them due to the strict monastic rules of the Carthusian Order. The lives of the monks and the buildings they lived in have been made accessible to the public using modern communication means. Visitors can leaf through manuscripts penned here hundreds of years ago on monitors in the monks’ rooms, while an audio guide provides additional information on events that took place here, making a visit to this historic site a memorable experience. PAST AND PRESENT In 1848 the Great Council of Thurgau decided to dissolve the mona steries and declare their assets state property. The monks were forced to leave Kartause Ittingen, bringing to an end seven hundred years of monastic life. The former charterhouse – the name given to Carthusian monasteries – was bought by private owners in 1867 and used as a country estate. In 1977 the complex was acquired by the Kartause Ittingen Foundation, which restored the buildings and, together with its partners, put them to new use.
24 Bodensee Magazine Special | Thurgau
The concept is based on the monastic values of culture, spirituality, education, social welfare, hospitality and self-sufficiency. As well as a large farm with its own vineyards and dairy, the former charterhouse offers supervised accommodation and activities for people with disabilities as well as a market garden with 60 sheltered workplaces. Visitors and seminar guests can enjoy high-quality produce grown on site in the restaurant housed in the stylishly refurbished old mill, the hotel with 68 rooms and the monastery shop. Kunstmuseum Thurgau and Ittingen Museum are located in the historic buildings and offer a wide range of events and exhibitions on local history and art. This is also where the Room of Tranquillity can be found, a place for guests to immerse themselves in the silence and peace of the former monastery. Kartause Ittingen also organises exclusive concerts and has made a name for itself among lovers of chamber music. tecum, a centre for spirituality, education and community building, offers a comprehensive adult education programme. Ittingen has become a lively venue for cultural events, seminars and encounters of all kinds.
INFORMATION Stiftung Kartause Ittingen Kartause Ittingen CH-8532 Warth Phone: +41 (0) 52 7484411 info@kartause.ch Ittinger Museum Kunstmuseum Thurgau Phone: +41 (0) 58 3451060 sekretariat.kunstmuseum@tg.ch www.kunstmuseum.ch Opening hours: May-September 11 am – 18 pm, daily October-April Mon-Fr 2 – 5 pm Sa/Sun 11 am – 5 pm